A growing trend towards vegan diets may not offer the health benefits many expect, warns Dr. Daniel Katambo, a consultant physician and founder of Afyacode Ltd.
Speaking on the impact of plant-based diets on weight and type 2 diabetes, at Radio Generation, Katambo said the assumption that vegans are automatically healthier is misleading.
He noted that while vegetarians avoid meat, they often still consume eggs or some dairy products. Vegans, however, eliminate all foods derived from animals, including dairy and eggs, relying solely on vegetables and starches.
Katambo emphasized that diet alone does not determine health outcomes.
“You consume excess of this stuff and your activity level is really low, then this contributes to you gaining weight,” he said, pointing out that carbohydrates play a key role in weight gain, particularly among those with low physical activity.
He also clarified misconceptions about cultural groups often associated with plant-based diets. Rastafarians, he explained, are not strictly vegans.
“Rastafans are not vegans, all of them. Maybe this one was an exception. We tend to get them being a mixture of everybody. But again, remember, Rastafans are also very active,” Katambo said.
Highlighting research from a local survey, Katambo said communities that heavily rely on vegan diets could have higher rates of obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes than expected. In some groups, the prevalence of these conditions was measured at 18%, compared with a national average of 3 to 4%.
“In fact, the perception that vegans and vegetarians are better off in terms of cholesterol issues, obesity, Type Two Diabetes and blood pressure issues is not true,” he added, noting the need for careful dietary planning and maintaining an active lifestyle.
The popularity of veganism is on the rise globally. In 2025, collaborative research by YouGov and Veganuary found that approximately 25.8 million people worldwide tried veganism in January alone.
In 2023, Germany led global searches on veganism according to Google Trends, followed by Austria and the UK.
Meanwhile, The Good Food Institute reported that global retail sales of plant-based meat products reached $6.1 billion in 2022, reflecting growing consumer interest in alternatives to animal products.
Katambo’s comments suggest that simply eliminating animal products does not guarantee better health outcomes. Diet quality, portion control, and regular physical activity remain crucial factors in preventing lifestyle-related diseases.
